Astro's Playroom

Last updated
Astro's Playroom
Astro's Playroom.jpg
Developer(s) Japan Studio (Team Asobi)
Publisher(s) Sony Interactive Entertainment
Director(s) Nicolas Doucet
Producer(s) Nicolas Doucet
Designer(s) Gento Morita
Programmer(s) Masayuki Yamada
Artist(s)
  • Sebastian Brueckner
  • Toshihiko Nakai
Composer(s) Kenneth C. M. Young
Series Astro Bot
Platform(s) PlayStation 5
ReleaseNovember 12, 2020
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single-player

Astro's Playroom is a 2020 platform game developed by Japan Studio's Team Asobi division and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 5. [1] [2] A sequel to Astro Bot Rescue Mission , the game comes pre-installed on every console, serving additionally as a free tech demo for the DualSense controller. [3] [4]

Contents

Astro's Playroom was announced on June 11, 2020, at the PlayStation 5 reveal event. [5] The game was released on November 12, 2020. It received positive reviews from critics.

Astro's Playroom was the final game released by Japan Studio before their dissolution in April 2021. Team Asobi was formally spun off into an independent studio within Sony's PlayStation Studios in June 2021. A full-length sequel, Astro Bot , was announced on May 30, 2024, and was released for the PlayStation 5 on September 6, 2024. [6]

Gameplay

A screenshot of Astro Bot with two other robots in the boat behind him referencing Kratos and Atreus from the 2018 video game God of War Astro's Playroom Gameplay.jpg
A screenshot of Astro Bot with two other robots in the boat behind him referencing Kratos and Atreus from the 2018 video game God of War

Astro's Playroom is a 3D platformer in which the player controls the title character Astro Bot, a small robot, using the DualSense controller. Like in its predecessor, Astro Bot Rescue Mission , he is able to jump, hover, punch enemies and objects, and use a spin attack by charging his punch. The haptic feedback of the controller is used to provide realistic tactile vibrations from actions, such as walking on different types of material, like sand, walking through rainfall, and walking against the wind. The game starts in a hub world called CPU Plaza, which is modeled after the PlayStation 5's CPU and provides access to five worlds which are each themed after a component of the console and contain collectable items themed after PlayStation consoles: Memory Meadow (PlayStation, PocketStation & PSone), SSD Speedway (PlayStation 2 & PS2 Slim), Cooling Springs (PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, & PlayStation Vita), GPU Jungle (PlayStation 4 & PlayStation VR), and the final world, 1994 Throwback (PlayStation 5). [7] The plaza also houses two other areas: Network Speed Run, in which players can compete in unlockable time trials for the fastest time which can be shared to online leaderboards, and PlayStation Labo, which houses all of the collectables a player has collected. [8]

Each of the four worlds are split up into four levels that are interconnected with each other. Two of these levels involve regular platforming whereas the other two involve a special power-up suit which makes use of the DualSense controller's capabilities. For example, one world features a frog suit with a spring at the bottom in which the controller must be tilted laterally to guide the frog and the trigger pressed down to compress the spring, which offers resistance similar to how a real spring would using the adaptive trigger system. Another example is the ball suit in which the player must swipe the touchpad to guide the ball. The worlds also contain large numbers of other robots performing various activities, including acting out scenes from various current and former PlayStation-exclusive game franchises, such as God of War and Resident Evil . [9] In the worlds, there are cable wires that Astro Bot can pull to collect projectiles, coins, and artifacts. There are also enemy robots that Astro Bot can defeat and also earn coins. If Astro Bot falls or gets defeated, the level will restart from the latest checkpoint cleared.

Three types of collectables exist within each world: coins, puzzle pieces, and artifacts. Coins collected can be used at a gacha machine in PlayStation Labo to potentially obtain collectable in-game figurines as well as more puzzle pieces and artifacts. Puzzle pieces are used to fill in a PlayStation mural that adorns the walls of the PlayStation Labo area. Finally, artifacts are 3D rendered representations of real-world objects from the history of PlayStation, such as consoles, controllers, and accessories. When collected, the player is able to rotate them using the DualSense's gyroscope and interact with them using its touchpad or built-in microphone. Artifacts are stored in PlayStation Labo where Astro Bot can later interact with them by punching or jumping on them.

At the end of each world, there is an area inspired by the startup sequences of the previous four PlayStation home consoles, where the player receives an artifact of the respective console as a reward for completing the world. Once all four worlds have been completed, a secret fifth world opens up called 1994 Throwback, in which Astro Bot must defeat a T-Rex boss inspired by a tech demo from the original PlayStation's first demo disc. [10] Once the T-Rex has been defeated, the game is not over, as a robotic version of the original T-Rex will appear. Once that is defeated, the closing credits roll and the player is rewarded with artifacts from the PlayStation 5 era, including the DualSense controller, the HD Camera, the Pulse 3D headphones, and the PlayStation 5 console itself. [11]

In anticipation for the release of Astro Bot, Astro's Playroom received several updates throughout 2024 to promote the upcoming launch. These include new gacha prizes that add new artifacts to the PlayStation Labo room for PlayStation 5 hardware released since the original release of Astro's Playroom (the slim model of the PlayStation 5, the DualSense Edge, Access controller, PlayStation Portal, and the PlayStation VR2 and its associated "Sense" controllers). These are stored in a new room below the PlayStation Labo room called the "Secret Labo". Within the Secret Labo a portal to preorder Astro Bot can be found (prior to the launch of Astro Bot the portal led to a countdown to the midnight release of Astro Bot on Sept. 6). Additionally special "VIP bots" were hidden in each world that can be rescued by completing a specific series of actions unique to each bot. The VIP bots are themed around Gran Turismo , Returnal , " The Old Hunters " downloadable content for Bloodborne, and Ape Escape and will appear in the portal room when rescued. Furthermore rescuing these bots will also make them available to rescue and add to the player's rescued bots at the crash site in Astro Bot.

Development

Concept art of various characters referencing the Metal Gear, Resident Evil, and Devil May Cry franchises Toshihiko Nakai concept art.jpeg
Concept art of various characters referencing the Metal Gear , Resident Evil , and Devil May Cry franchises

Team Asobi began development on Astro's Playroom in early 2018. The game initially started as a series of tech demos for the PlayStation 5's DualSense controller, although its status as a launch title was not established until later in development. According to creative director Nicolas Doucet, at least 80 tech demos for the DualSense controller had been designed while working on the game. [12]

As a celebration of the PlayStation brand, the game features appearances by characters from several PlayStation franchises, as well as characters from series by third-party developers, such as Bandai Namco Entertainment, Capcom, Square Enix, Konami, and Activision. Team Asobi consulted with the original developers, such as Tekken series producer Katsuhiro Harada, for the numerous easter eggs found in Astro's Playroom referencing the different video game franchises, [13] In designing the cameos, concept artist Toshihiko Nakai focused on capturing recognizability, humor, and fan appeal. A number of animators at Team Asobi had previously worked on some original titles referenced in Astro's Playroom. [14]

Reception

Astro's Playroom received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic. [15] Critics praised the game's variety, celebration of the PlayStation brand, and the use of the DualSense controller.

In a highly positive review, Electronic Gaming Monthly 's Mollie Patterson awarded the game a perfect score, lauding the variety of the gameplay and the game's nostalgia factor. She wrote:

I found myself legitimately becoming emotional finding all of Astro's Playroom secrets. No matter your console or company allegiances, it's easy to forget just how much those 25 years of the PlayStation's existence as a gaming platform has meant for our hobby. [17]

Destructoid 's Chris Carter praised the gameplay as being a great showcase for the DualSense and the instant load times. [18] Similarly, Eurogamer 's Martin Robinson praised the game for being a promising glimpse of the future for the PlayStation 5 and remarked it as being "one of the best launch titles I can remember in an age." [16]

The usage of cameos and references to various PlayStation and PlayStation-related franchises such as Uncharted , LittleBigPlanet and Crash Bandicoot was praised by Game Informer 's Joe Juba, comparing their inclusion favorably to the various licensed Lego video games. [19] Many of the developers behind the various included franchises, such as Naughty Dog, responded positively to these references. [20]

GameSpot 's Mike Epstein enjoyed the game's visual fidelity and solid platforming, but was critical of the game's motion control sequences. [21] Jonathon Dornbush, writing for IGN , enjoyed the game's homages to PlayStation's history and the DualSense interactions, but criticized how it felt more like a technical showcase than a full game. [22] Complaints about the game being more of a technical showcase were echoed by Game Rant 's Anthony Taormina. [23]

During the 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Astro's Playroom for "Family Game of the Year". [24]

Related Research Articles

The DualShock is a line of gamepads developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation family of video game consoles. It is named for vibration-feedback and analog controls. Introduced in November 1997, it was initially marketed as a secondary peripheral for the first PlayStation console. The console's bundle was updated to include DualShock, and phase out the original PlayStation controller and the Dual Analog Controller. The DualShock is the best-selling gamepad of all time by units sold, excluding bundled controllers.

PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a division of Sony.

Japan Studio was a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo. Formerly the video game development division for Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. and serving as a first-party developer for the company, it was best known for the Ape Escape, LocoRoco, Patapon, Gravity Rush, and Knack series, the Team Ico games, Bloodborne, The Legend of Dragoon, and Astro's Playroom. In April 2021, Japan Studio was reorganized and merged with Team Asobi and other SIE studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation Move</span> Motion game controller by Sony Interactive Entertainment

PlayStation Move is a motion game controller developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Initially released in 2010 for use with the PlayStation 3 home video game console, its compatibility was later expanded to its successor, the PlayStation 4 in 2013, its PlayStation VR platform in 2016 and the PlayStation 5 in 2020. Conceptually similar to Nintendo's Wii Remote and Microsoft's Kinect, its function is based around controller input in games stemming from the actual physical movement of the player. The Move uses inertial sensors in the wand to detect motion while the wand's position is tracked using a PlayStation Eye or PlayStation Camera. The device was generally well received by critics, but has not quite met Sony's goals for integration into the market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation 4</span> Sonys fourth home video game console

The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013, in Europe, South America, and Australia, and on February 22, 2014, in Japan. A console of the eighth generation, it competes with Microsoft's Xbox One and Nintendo's Wii U and Switch.

<i>The Playroom</i> (2013 video game) 2013 video game

The Playroom is a video game developed by Japan Studio's Team Asobi and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It is a collection of augmented reality mini-games meant to demonstrate the use of the PlayStation Camera and the DualShock 4 controller and comes preloaded with all PlayStation 4 consoles. The PlayStation Camera accessory is required to play The Playroom. If a camera is not present, a trailer for The Playroom will be displayed instead of the full game. Firesprite, a studio founded by former employees of Studio Liverpool, worked on the visuals of The Playroom. Downloadable content is free.

<i>Gran Turismo 7</i> 2022 video game

Gran Turismo 7 is a 2022 racing simulation video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game is the eighth main installment and the thirteenth overall in the Gran Turismo series. It was released for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Gran Turismo 7 also features virtual reality support compatible with PlayStation VR2 through a free in-game update.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nintendo Labo</span> Toys-to-life concept by Nintendo

Nintendo Labo is a toys-to-life concept developed by Nintendo and released in April 2018. Labo consists of 2 parts, where one part is a game and one part is multiple sheets of cardboard. The games come as kits that include cardboard cut-outs and other materials that are to be assembled in combination with the Nintendo Switch console display and Joy-Con controllers to create a "Toy-Con" that can interact with the included game software and vice versa. Nintendo designed Labo as a way to teach principles of engineering and basic programming.

<i>Astro Bot Rescue Mission</i> 2018 video game

Astro Bot Rescue Mission is a 2018 platform video game developed by Japan Studio's Team Asobi and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 4's PlayStation VR headset. It stars a cast of robot characters first introduced in The Playroom, where they appeared as robots that lived inside of the DualShock 4 controller. In the game, the player teams up with Captain Astro and goes on a quest to rescue his lost crew scattered across different worlds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation 5</span> Sonys fifth home video game console

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North America, and South Korea, and was released worldwide a week later. The PS5 is part of the ninth generation of video game consoles, along with Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S consoles, which were released in the same month.

<i>PlayStation VR Worlds</i> 2016 video game

PlayStation VR Worlds is a video game compilation developed by London Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was released on 10 October 2016 as a launch game for the PlayStation VR, the PlayStation 4's virtual reality headset. The game includes five different experiences of varying genres, ranging from sports games to first-person shooters. Upon release, the game received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the London Heist experience but criticized the high initial launch price and short length.

<i>Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart</i> 2021 video game

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a 2021 third-person shooter platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The sequel to Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus (2013) and the ninth main installment in the Ratchet & Clank series, it was released for the PlayStation 5 on June 11, 2021. A Windows port, developed by Nixxes Software, was released on July 26, 2023. The game received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise given to its visuals, combat, and technical advancements. It had sold over 3.97 million units by June 2023.

<i>Demons Souls</i> (2020 video game) Video game remake

Demon's Souls is a 2020 action role-playing game developed by Bluepoint Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 5. The game was released as a launch title for the PlayStation 5 in November. It is a remake of Demon's Souls, originally developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation 3 in 2009. Japan Studio's Internal Development Department led development on the remake, which makes Demon’s Souls its last game before its integration into Team Asobi. Demon's Souls received critical acclaim from critics, who praised its gameplay, visuals, technical aspects, and improvements over the original game. It sold over 1.4 million copies by September 2021.

<i>Spider-Man</i> (video game series) Video game series developed by Insomniac Games

Marvel's Spider-Man is a series of superhero action-adventure video games developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) for PlayStation consoles and Windows. Based on characters appearing in Marvel Comics publications, the games are inspired by the long-running comic book lore, while additionally deriving from various adaptations in other media. The series principally follows protagonists Peter Parker and Miles Morales who fight crime in New York City as dual bearers of the eponymous superhero persona while dealing with the complications of their civilian lives.

Team Asobi is a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo. A first-party studio for Sony Interactive Entertainment, Team Asobi was originally formed in 2012 as part of Japan Studio, but formally spun off into an independent studio within Sony's PlayStation Studios in April 2021. It is best known for the Astro Bot series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation VR2</span> Virtual reality headset developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment

The PlayStation VR2 is a virtual reality headset for the PlayStation 5 and PC, developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment and released on February 22, 2023.

<i>Astro Bot</i> 2024 video game

Astro Bot is a 2024 platform video game developed by Team Asobi and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 5. It is a sequel to Astro's Playroom (2020) and the first game featuring the character not to be developed by Japan Studio due to its dissolution. The game was released in celebration of PlayStation's 30th anniversary and received universal acclaim from critics. It had sold 1.5 million units by November 2024.

<i>Astro Bot</i> (series) Video game series

Astro Bot is a series of augmented reality and platform games developed by Japan Studio, later by Team Asobi and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The series began with the launch title The Playroom for PlayStation 4 in 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "Astro's Playroom brings adorable 3D platforming to PS5". VentureBeat. 2020-06-11. Archived from the original on 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  2. ↑ Avard, Alex (2020-06-12). "Astro's Playroom is a free PS5 game pre-loaded onto the console at launch". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 2020-06-12. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  3. ↑ Gartenberg, Chaim (2020-07-17). "PlayStation 5 pack-in Astro's Playroom is a DualSense controller demo". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  4. ↑ "Astro's Playroom preview: PS5's free pack-in is more than just a tech demo". Android Central. 2020-10-27. Archived from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  5. ↑ "Astro's Playroom Coming To PS5, No Mention Of VR Support". UploadVR. 2020-06-11. Archived from the original on 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  6. ↑ "Astro Bot arrives on PS5 September 6". PlayStation.Blog. 2024-05-30. Archived from the original on 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  7. ↑ Walkthrough - Astro's Playroom Wiki Guide - IGN, 13 November 2020, archived from the original on 2022-09-20, retrieved 2021-01-11
  8. ↑ "Astro's Playroom Fans Discover Impressive Speedrun Exploits". Gamerant. Archived from the original on 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  9. ↑ "Every cameraman reference in Astro's Playroom". Gamepur. Archived from the original on 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  10. ↑ 1994 Throwback - Astro's Playroom Wiki Guide - IGN, 24 November 2020, archived from the original on 2022-09-20, retrieved 2021-01-11
  11. ↑ The 10 Best PlayStation Easter Eggs Hidden In Astro's Playroom, 25 November 2020, archived from the original on 2022-09-20, retrieved 2020-11-25
  12. ↑ "Astro's Playroom — Behind the creation of PlayStation 5's charm-filled platformer". Venture Beat. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Astro's Playroom Tekken Easter Egg Was Supervised by Game's Director". Gamerant. 16 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Astro's Playroom: the story behind those fun PlayStation character cameos". PlayStation Blog. 31 August 2021. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  15. 1 2 "Astro's Playroom for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  16. 1 2 Robinson, Martin (9 December 2020). "Astro's Playroom review - a uniquely tactile platformer that's the beating heart of PS5". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  17. ↑ "Astro's Playroom review". EGM. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  18. ↑ "Review: Astro's Playroom". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  19. ↑ "Astro's Playroom Review – A Welcome Celebration". Game Informer. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  20. ↑ "Naughty Dog's Favorite Games of 2020". Naughty Dog. Archived from the original on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  21. ↑ Epstein, Mike (November 6, 2020). "Astro's Playroom Review: PS5 Welcome Wagon". Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  22. ↑ Astro's Playroom Review - IGN, 6 November 2020, archived from the original on 2021-01-26, retrieved 2021-01-11
  23. ↑ "Astro's Playroom PS5 Review". Game Rant. 6 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-02-15. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  24. ↑ "2021 Awards Category Details Family Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.